Controllable hose-and-drogue in-flight refueling system

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(11)

EP 0 807 577 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	14.01.1998 Bulletin 1998/03

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	19.11.1997 Bulletin 1997/47

(21)	Application number: 97202513.4

(22)	Date of filing: 02.10.1992

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁶: B64D 39/06

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	FR GB

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Priority:

02.10.1991 US 769435

(62)	Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
	92921744.6 / 0605651

(71)	Applicant: ENIG ASSOCIATES, INC.
	Silver Spring, MD 20904-2633 (US)

(72)	Inventors:
	Krispin, Yaacov Rockville, MD 20850 (US) Velger, Mordekhai Rehovot (IL)

(74)	Representative: Moir, Michael Christopher et al
	Mathys & Squire 100 Gray's Inn Road London WC1X 8AL London WC1X 8AL (GB)


	Remarks:
	This application was filed on 14 - 08 - 1997 as a divisional application to the application mentioned under INID code 62.

(54)	Controllable hose-and-drogue in-flight refueling system

(57) An in-flight hose-and-drogue refueling system has the capability of steering the drogue (10) by means of four thrusters (20) which are energized by pressurized air. The system measures the drogue's 3-dimensional position relative to either the refueling aircraft or the probe on the receiver aircraft. A control system utilizes the measurements of the drogue's 3-dimensional position to activate the thrusters so as to either minimize the excursions of the drogue due to turbulence, thus enabling easier hook-up, or alternatively, to track the receiver's probe and automatically guide and contact the drogue to the probe.

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